Who's Running for Oregon's 5th District?

Overview of the 2026 Oregon Fifth Congressional District Race

This is part of a series of stories on the candidates running in the May 19 primary election. Ballots will be mailed to voters April 29.

Two Republicans are competing for the chance to flip Oregon's Fifth Congressional District red after incumbent U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Oregon, successfully unseated Lori Chavez-DeRemer in 2024.

Chavez-DeRemer, who had made history in 2022 when she became one of the first Latinas and the first female Republican elected to Congress in Oregon, went on to become President Donald Trump's labor secretary. She resigned on April 20 while facing an investigation into allegations that she was drinking alcohol in her office, having an affair with a subordinate and was inappropriately using taxpayer funds.

The race in 2024 was Oregon's most expensive.

Bynum, the first Black member of Congress from Oregon, also faces a Democratic challenger in the May 19 primary.

The district covers Linn, Clackamas and Deschutes counties and parts of Multnomah and Marion counties.

Here's what to know about the candidates. They are listed in the order in which candidate names will appear on the ballot based on the Secretary of State’s random alphabet ordering.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum: Commitment to Continue Fighting for Oregonians

Bynum is seeking a second term in Congress. She previously served in the Oregon House from 2016 to 2024.

"The job's not finished," Bynum said in an emailed response to questions from the Statesman Journal. "I’ve worked in Congress to fix what’s broken and deliver real solutions to the issues impacting our communities, but there's a lot more work left to do. I’m ready to continue the progress I’ve made over my first term."

She holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Florida A&M University and an MBA from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business.

Bynum is the daughter of teachers and grew up in Washington, D.C. She's previously shared that she and her husband moved to Oregon, his home state, in 2002, where she took over her mother-in-law's McDonald's franchise.

Bynum touted her work in Congress and said she has delivered "real solutions" to issues impacting Oregonians. She said Democrats have been limited in what they can do to rein in Trump with Republicans in control of the House, Senate and Supreme Court, but said she and her colleagues have used "every tool available" to force important issues to the House floor.

No freshman has her record, she added.

"These bills have addressed issues Oregonians have told me to my face are important to them – like lowering the cost of housing, increasing our wildfire preparedness, and making it easier for small businesses to start up and stay open," Bynum said. She also highlighted introducing 13 additional pieces of bipartisan legislation.

Bynum said she ran two years ago because she wanted to make life better for Oregonians and said her motivations remained the same.

She said she has a "K-30 agenda" focused on supporting young Oregonians, with three pillars: education, jobs and housing.

Zeva Rosenbaum: 'Working-class' and 'Young Progressive'

First-time candidate Zeva Rosenbaum described herself as a working-class progressive who would bring “creative thinking” and stronger communication to Congress.

Rosenbaum moved to Oregon about six years ago to attend Oregon State University. She grew up in rural farmland in southwest Colorado. She graduated from OSU in 2024 with a degree in writing.

Rosenbaum said her decision to run was shaped by dissatisfaction with national leadership following the 2024 election and global conflicts.

“We need more working-class representation, and we need young progressives to step up,” she said.

Her campaign rejects corporate PAC funding, which she said is important to restore trust in government. She’s critical of Bynum’s voting record and of Bynum describing herself as a working-class small-business owner, given her ownership of four McDonald’s franchises in Portland.

Rosenbaum said she would pursue policies such as universal health care and free education. Other commitments: regulating artificial intelligence, implementing policies to make the country more affordable, abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prioritizing the protection of rural and Indigenous communities.

Stronger environmental protections are another priority.

She’s signed the ACLU of Oregon’s “Freedom Pledge” and the “Green New Deal Pledge.”

Patti Adair: Deschutes County Commissioner Focused on Tax Relief

Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair believes she can bring tax relief and economic stability to Oregonians and said she would draw on her experience in local government to do so.

Adair is a fourth-generation Oregonian who said she entered the race out of concern for rising costs and the state’s economic direction.

“Oregon is really struggling,” she said, criticizing high taxes and affordability challenges.

Adair lives in Sisters but grew up on a ranch near Heppner. She graduated from Heppner High School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Oregon and a Certified Public Accountant title from Central Washington University. She lived in California for several years before moving back to Oregon in 2014.

Adair was first elected to the county commission in 2018 and was reelected in 2022.

Oregon is “at the wrong end of the nation,” Adair said.

She said there has been “outstanding” new tax legislation, such as no tax on tips and overtime, passed under Trump's H.R. 1, or the Big, Beautiful Bill, that Oregon desperately needs. She would aim to extend the measures, she said, criticizing Oregon lawmakers for adopting legislation that disconnected the state from other tax changes.

Adair highlighted her record overseeing county operations, including managing the county budget, and supporting initiatives such as the county’s veterans housing program. She’s also opted out of the public employee’s retirement system that has saved her county thousands in taxpayer dollars.

“Community success is really important to me,” she said.

Mental health services are another focus. Adair pointed to high rates of substance use and mental illness among incarcerated individuals in her county. She said the state needs expanded treatment capacity and federal policy changes.

Adair argued her experience and bipartisan approach set her apart in the race.

“I serve the people. I work across party lines,” Adair said.

Jonathan Lockwood: Former Republican Spokesperson and Law Student

Jonathan Lockwood, a Republican with a background in public relations, law, and political advocacy, said the race for Oregon’s Fifth Congressional District is a pivotal moment for the state.

“Oregon is at a tipping point,” Lockwood said. “This election in 2026 is a make-it-or-break-it point for Oregonians because I think being dominated by one party for decades has not served Oregonians well."

Lockwood lives in Lebanon and holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Denver’s Metropolitan State University and a master’s degree in public relations and corporate communications from Georgetown University. He was weeks away from obtaining his law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law when he spoke to the Statesman Journal.

He was born and raised in Denver before moving to Oregon when he was hired by former Oregon Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli.

Lockwood vowed to oppose tax increases and to propose reforms to ease the burden of student loan repayment.

“Student loan and millennial issues are often not talked about by Congress,” he said.

He also said that reviving the timber industry is another priority, whose decline he believes has contributed to broader challenges such as housing instability and addiction. He said concerns about homelessness and the opioid crisis, including stories of grandparents raising grandchildren due to addiction, have stood out to him on the campaign trail.

Lockwood has been sharply critical of Democrats and his fellow Republican, Adair, who is vying for the seat. He described himself as “the right fighter” to go against Bynum.

Fundraising Efforts Among Candidates

How much money have candidates raised?

Bynum had $2.29 million cash on hand as of March 31, according to Federal Election Commission data.

Rosenbaum and Lockwood both have not reported any fundraising.

Adair reported having $189,030 cash on hand. She has raised $277,039, according to campaign finance records.